April is Pet First Aid Awareness Month—and it’s the perfect time for pet-sitting professionals and pet owners to brush up on tips to keep their pets healthy, happy and safe. Dr. Emily Pointer, DVM, at Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital in New York City, said that the most important aspect pet owners should take away from National Pet First Aid Awareness Month is how critical it is to be prepared.

“An emergency situation can be handled much faster and more appropriately if an owner has resources like a first aid kit and list of important phone numbers (veterinarian, emergency animal hospital and poison control) easily accessible,” Dr. Pointer said.

Just like people, most pet accidents happen in or nearby the home. Examples of the most common pet accidents include: toxic ingestion, dog bites, high rise syndrome, ripped toenails, foreign body ingestions with gastrointestinal problems, eye emergencies, broken bones, trouble giving birth and being hit by a car. One way to be prepared is to have a pet first aid kit on hand.

An article in the March/April 2014 issue of Pet Sitter’s WORLD magazine offers these suggestions for your Pet First Aid Kit, provided by Pet Poison Helpline®.

Teaspoon/tablespoon set (to calculate the appropriate amount of hydrogen peroxide to give)

Liquid hand dish washing detergent (i.e., Dawn, Palmolive)

Rubber gloves Triple antibiotic ointment with NO other combination ingredients—NOT for use in CATS!)

Vitamin E oil

Diphenhydramine tablets 25 mg (with NO other combination ingredients)

Ophthalmic saline solution or artificial tears

Can of tuna packed in water or tasty canned pet food

Sweet electrolyte-containing beverage

Corn syrup

Vegetable oil

Remember, before you attempt anything with your new pet first aid kit, it is always important to speak with a poison control specialist before you try any therapies at home. You will never want to administer the hydrogen peroxide to a pet without checking with a veterinary professional first. In some situations, it is not appropriate to induce vomiting at home. You should also never administer over-the-counter human medications to pets without first speaking to a toxicologist or veterinary professional.One helpful resource is the Pet Poison Helpline: 1 (800) 213-6680 orwww.petpoisonhelpline.com.

According to the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), 25 percent more pets would survive if just one pet first aid technique were applied prior to getting emergency veterinary care.

After you’ve administered first aid, it is still extremely important to seek veterinary care as soon as possible. Many emergencies cannot be managed—even in the initial period—with simple pet first aid procedures. Call your veterinarian (or, if pet sitting, the client’s veterinarian), an emergency veterinary center or poison control immediately—and remember, above all, to STAY CALM.

Because toxic ingestion (pet poisons) is such a common pet accident, it’s also important to be familiar with the most common pet toxins. Members of Pet Sitters International have access to resources to keep the pets in their care healthy, happy and safe year-round. PSI members, access PSI's free on-demand member webinar, Tips for Pet Poison Prevention.